Clincial Characteristics

Question 1

How many symptoms must be present?

Answer 1

At least 5

Question 2

How long should symptoms have persisted for?

Answer 2

Should persist for longer than 2 weeks (and should also be present all or most of the time).

Question 3

What must these symptoms cause?

Answer 3

Clinically significant distress or impairment in general functioning.

Question 4

What should these symptoms not be better accounted for?

Answer 4

Bereavement.

Question 5

What must one of the symptoms be?

Answer 5

Must include either depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure.

Question 6

What are the other possible symptoms?

Answer 6

1) Sad depressed mood
2) Loss of interest/pleasure in usual activities
3) Difficulties in sleeping - insomnia (or hypersomnia)
4) Shift in activity level (becoming lethargic or agitated)
5) Poor appetite and weight loss; or increased appetite and weight gain
6) Loss of energy/ great fatigue
7) Negative self-concept; feelings of worthlessness
8) Difficulties concentrating
9) Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Question 7

What diagnosis will these symptoms result in?

And from which book?

Answer 7

Major depressive disorder

DSM (American Psychiatric Association)